Anika was sitting in the library, reading a book when the phone rang.

She answered it with a smile on her face. “Dr. Singham here.”

“Ann?”

She froze as she heard the familiar voice.

“Ann? Is that you?” the girl on the other end asked urgently.

“Myra…” Anika whispered as her eyes began to well up with tears.

“Oh my God, Ann. You are safe… you are safe!” There were sobs on the other end of the line causing her to break down as well. She couldn’t control her crying of sheer relief as she heard her sister speak.

She wiped away her tears and took a deep calming breath. “Myra. How are you? How are Mom and Dad? And also Nathan,” she asked urgently.

“We are all safe, Ann. We are only worried about you. We heard what happened.”

“Don’t worry about me, Myra. Just keep Mom and Dad safe until everything is sorted.”

“Yes. We are still at a safe house, and Justin is working with the cops to remove the threat completely. They have already caught a couple of men and are questioning them.”

Anika felt her mind at ease listening to her sister. “That’s good. Last time I heard from Justin, he’d mentioned they would simply be deported to be tried at the Indian courts.”

“Yes. Unfortunately that’s the law,” Myra grumbled.

As long as her family was safe, Anika didn’t care where Neelambari’s goons were tried by the law.

“How are you, Ann? We can’t wait to have you back with us.” Her sister sobbed.

Anika didn’t know what to say to that. She had been insistently planning to get her family to safety from the day she had gained access to Abhay’s computer. Planning her own escape, although not her priority then, she had always thought she’d eventually get back to her old life.

And now… she didn’t want to go back.

“Ann?”

Taking a deep breath, she answered her sister. “I’ll see you guys soon, Myra. I’ll also be bringing Abhay… my husband.”

There was silence.

“What are you saying, Ann. Aren’t you planning to leave him and get back to us like you said?”

Anika shook her head even though she knew her sister couldn’t see her. “No, Myra. I love him. Now that you guys are completely safe, I’m going to tell him everything—”

“Ann, stop with the madness.” Her sister’s voice shook in concern. “Is this the same man who forced you to marry him?” Myra asked.

Anika bit her lip. “Yes. But he had a reason—”

“Isn’t this the same guy who kills people, and threatened to kill you as well, if you didn’t listen to him?"

“No. No. That part was a misunderstanding—”

“What part, Ann? The killing people or threatening to kill you?” Myra asked in disbelief.

“Myra, listen to me. You don’t understand—”

“Please Ann. I’m begging you…” Anika could hear Myra’s sobs. “I don’t know what those people did to you or how they influenced you. Please, come back.”

“I'm going to come, Myra, I promise. But—”

“No. Right now, Ann. That’s why I’m calling you. Justin has already made an escape plan. Ravi, his contact will be waiting for you at the Karnul railway junction. Board any of the passing trains there. Ravi will also have your flight tickets and a passport ready.”

When Anika fell silent, listening to the plan, Myra began to panic. “Ann, promise me you are coming. Please.”

Anika still didn’t reply, her mind torn between her family and her newfound love.

“Ann, listen to me. You might be experiencing confusing thoughts about your captor. But please remember, at end of the day, he’s still your captor. You might feel you love him, but in reality, none of what you are feeling is true. It’s called a Stockholm Syndrome. Look it up!”

Myra was studying criminal psychology and knew what she was talking about. However, Anika didn’t have to look up the meaning for that term. She already knew what it meant.

Her heart began to pound as her mind tried to process the next course of action and the various implications. “I’ll be there,” Anika whispered, before ending the call.

Over the next few minutes, she sat in the library staring blankly at the wall. Then closing her eyes, she took a deep shuddering breath before opening them again.

She went down the stairs and walked towards the large parking area located next to the driveway of the Singham mansion. Her eyes were wide, and she moved as though in a trance.

Ravi who stood near one of the cars speaking with the other drivers spotted her and came towards her. “Anika, do you need any help?” he asked.

“Yes. I need to pick up a friend from the Karnul railway station. Can you drive me there?” Her voice came out as a whisper.

Ravi hesitated for a second before smiling. “Sure. Let me know which car we’ll need. Is your friend coming with a lot of luggage?”

“No. Any car should be fine. But we have to go alone. We can't take anyone else with us.”

Ravi froze.

"Please Ravi. I want you to follow this order of mine. It's urgent. Please make it happen."

Ravi looked torn, but eventually he nodded. "Come down to the east side entrance. I'll bring a car there," he said.

Heart thudding, Anika went past the busy household towards the east entrance which only had tall trees and overlooked endless stretches of barren land.

Soon, Ravi got a small car that obviously didn't belong to the Singhams. It was his personal car.

Pulling the door open, she sat next to him in the front seat.

Ravi began to drive her to the destination.

Anika remained silent. Ravi remained silent as well as though he sensed a different kind of mood in her that he usually didn’t encounter.

Her eyes took in the familiar landscape outside as the car sped through.

 

I'm addicted. I'm so addicted to you that I don't think I can stay without having your taste on my tongue or your smell inside my lungs.

 

She suppressed a sob at the memory of his words.

“Ravi.”

“Yes, Anika,” he responded with a grave voice.

“Please turn back. I don’t want to go for my friend right now. I’ll come back later… with Abhay.”

Ravi nodded, and without saying anything else, he slowed the car down and reversed it and drove them back towards the Singham Estate.

Even though worry about her parents and sister remained, her heart felt much lighter with the decision she’d taken.

“I’m sorry, Ravi, for wasting your time.”

“That’s okay. I understand,” he said gently.

Did he suspect she was trying to leave the Singham Estate? And if so, why didn’t he say anything or call Abhay immediately? She felt touched by the loyalty and trust most of the Singhams showed her.

“Ravi… I…”

Whatever she was about to say was cut off when she was jerked hard within the seat as they crashed into another car. Their car spun in circles before coming to a halt. Before she could catch her breath and ask whether Ravi was fine, they were surrounded by more than a dozen SUVs.